SOUTH AFRICAN POULTRY FARMERS URGED TO BE CAUTIOUS TO AVERT BIRD FLU OUTBREAK

CAPE TOWN–The Agriculture Department in Western cape Province has appealed to poultry farmers in the province to continue to exercise caution to avert another bird flu outbreak.

Ninety-five cases of the H5 N8 strain of the virus were detected last year. The virus was traced back to ostrich in commercial farms and wild birds.

The provincial Agriculture Minister, Alan Winde, says no new case has been detected since October. However, we are still detecting among wild birds the avian influenza as per the last update right around the coast of the province,” he adds.

“So we ask if anybody sees anything that they feel should be reported that they report to their local or state vet and of course those involved with the poultry industry must keep the bio-security measures as strict as possible, because we need to maintain as safe an environment as possible.